Tempe City Council approves anti-discrimination ordinance

Tempe, AZ – The Tempe City Council has enacted an ordinance that would provide community members protections against discrimination.

Councilmembers Kolby Granville, Joel Navarro and Corey Woods worked since last year on the formulation of a draft ordinance with the consent of the Council. The unanimous approval happened during last night’s

The ordinance prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, familial status, age, disability and United States military veteran status. Protections apply to the areas of: employment at the City of Tempe and businesses in Tempe; contracts; housing; public places; and appointments to city Boards and Commissions.

Tempe’s ordinance does not require businesses to provide domestic partner benefits to employees. It does not change any bathroom, dressing room or locker room policies, and it does not apply to Tempe school districts. There are no cost increases anticipated in complying with the ordinance and no direct cost to the city to administer. Exemptions are made for religious organizations, membership clubs and expressive associations.

Public hearings on the ordinance were held during the Feb. 13 and Feb. 27 Formal Council meetings. To read the ordinance, visit http://1.usa.gov/1pzWDfO.

Tempe is the fourth Arizona city to take this action. Phoenix, Tucson and Flagstaff have similar ordinances.

Tempe values diversity and works to champion inclusion within the city organization and externally. The city provides domestic partner benefits to its employees and assures non-discrimination in hiring and in procurement.

According to the ordinance, a community member who feels a violation has taken place can file a complaint with the City Manager within 45 days of the occurrence. A process for vetting and mediating complaints is established in the ordinance. Each violation of the ordinance could carry a civil fine of $1,500 to $2,500.